Colorado Springs and El Paso County Officials would like to thank the community for their very generous donations to firefighters who are working on the Waldo Canyon Fire. The management team and firefighters cannot adequately express the level of gratitude they feel for all the items that have been brought to fire camp.

Unfortunately, these donations are overwhelming the capacity of the fire camp to manage, store and consume them. The firefighters are fed daily by a contract caterer who provides the firefighters with all the food they require, including the calories and nutritional requirements they need to keep up the hard work that they do. This contract pays the caterer for each firefighter in camp regardless of whether they eat of not. From this point on, please do not bring food or other donated items to the fire camp. You can continue to show support for firefighters by placement of thank you signs on fences and in your yards. These messages are seen by all firefighters and are greatly appreciated.

Monetary Donations to assist the evacuees or firefighters can be directed to the Pikes Peak Chapter of the American Red Cross. Those donations stay in our community if designated to the local chapter. Donate online at www.pparc.org or drop off in person at Pikes Peak American Red Cross, 1040 S 8th St., Colorado Springs, CO 80905.

Please do not deliver goods of any type to the shelters or to the fire staging areas. These sites are overwhelmed with donations and the management of these donations distracts from the primary goal of public safety. Below is where good donations can be delivered:

Once again, we cannot express how much we appreciate the kindness and generosity of the Pike Peak region. We remind everyone to follow the proper donation channels to maximize the benefits of food, money, or other items to the evacuees and responders.